Aboriginal day festivities started early this year, with events in different corners of Nuu-chah-nulth territory.
Recognized on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on a Saturday this year, prompting events to be held the day before in some communities.
A lunch-time seafood feast was held at the Port Alberni Friendship Center on June 20, a lively event featuring a rock band and face painting for children. Before the meal representatives from the local Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations addressed the crowd, noting the difficult history with its Indigenous people that the Port Alberni community is still working to overcome.
“We have a really complex history here in the valley,” said Tseshaht Chief Councillor Ken Watts during the event.
But Watts also noted how encouraged he was of the hundreds who partake in the annual Orange Shirt Day walk each Sept. 30.
“It’s what we do after those walks that’s important,” he added.
Ahousaht elder Wally Samuel noted that this September the Port Alberni Friendship Centre celebrates 60 years in the community.
“It was like a communal way of living again when they opened the friendship centre,” reflected Tseshaht member Jessica Sault, who performed The Welcome Song with others before the meal was served.
Another Aboriginal day event was hosted by the Huu-ay-aht in Anacla, followed by other festivities on June 21, including a gathering in Tseshaht’s Paper Mill Dam Park. Events near Tofino on June 21 include a reopening of the Lone Cone Trail on Meares Island, hosted by the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthlee Stewardship Society from 9-3, followed by Yoga with Tla-o-qui-aht teachings about the ʔiisaak Pledge at the Tofino Visitor Centre at 5:30 p.m.
